Whisky cabinet situation(s)

This is something I had to document since it will likely never happen again.

As per my vid description:
Seeing this numerical situation in my whisky cabinet weirded me out for a moment. Then I decided to record it. Then I discovered a possible subconscious explanation. Then I confirmed I was a nerd. Then I had a drink.



Bottles 16yr and 17yr will be the first to retire.  Then Bottle 15yr.  The 14yr, 18yr, and 19yr remain unopened.  There are some younger and NAS (no age statement) bottles that you're not seeing, but there's no symmetry to them as of yet.

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I highly advise against having many open bottles, unless you're "goin' hard" (to quote T-Pain) every night.  With many open bottles you risk oxidation issues for those that are less than half full and more than six months old.  But even worse than oxidized whisky?  Boredom.  There are ways to defend against oxidation (a subject for a future post), but it's tough to fight bottle boredom.  Especially if one's getting bored with multiple bottles.  I've walked a thin line with a couple of mine, so I'll be scaling back how many I have open simultaneously in the future.

If you're getting bored with a bottle you can take a peek at my Bad Whisky post.  To briefly summarize/update, here are some things you should try with the old whisky before opening another bottle:

1. A little water can help out a whisky.  It can change the flavor and scent compounds as well as make the texture creamier.  Start with one teaspoon, then increase if necessary.
2. Match it with foods.  Dark chocolate or salted almonds (or both!) complement sweeter whiskies.  Smoked salmon (or smoked meat *giggle* in general) match nicely with salty or peaty whiskies.
3. Highball.  That's my new thing.  Tumbler + 60% club soda + 40% whisky + very little ice = a decent drink.  And if you want to go batsh*t crazy, stir in two shakes of (non-Peychaud's) bitters.  But go easy on the batsh*t bitters, too much will topple your tipple.

Spend some time with that bottle.  (I'm talking weeks or months, not a 12-hour bender.)  First impressions are pivotal, but palates, preferences, and pleasures change.  If you can't work out your relationship with your existing whisky, it's all good.  There's a planet-worth of oak-aged distillate to be explored.

But remember, you should never bust out another unopened bottle in the midst of disappointment.  A new bottle is a celebration.  Optimism and grand alchemy went into the usquebaugh within.